Thursday, June 14, 2007

Campaign For Online Trough Monitor

In the wake of the appalling attempt by those ever lovin' MPs to stop us seeing their expenses, may we urge all BOM readers to support the campaign for an online trough monitor.

Michael Greaves wants to get us an ONLINE REGISTER OF MP's & PEER'S EXPENSES, along the lines of the one already up and running in Scotland. For MSPs anyone can look at a detailed breakdown of expense claims, including amounts, dates, and payees (see here).

Michael has set up an excellent blog to focus the campaign- We Pay For Them- and has posted his draft bill along with a useful (and blood boiling) collection of relevant press cuttings here.

"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to place before Parliament a Bill to create an Online Register of MPs and Peer's Expenses.Since June 2006 it has been possible to view the expenses of Members of the Scottish Parliament online. There is no reason why the UK Parliament should not follow suit.

In order to help restore confidence in the UK Parliament and the conduct of MPs and Peers and the way in which they spend taxpayer's money, the Government is petitioned to introduce a Bill before Parliament to create and maintain Online Registers of MPs and Peers expenses similar to those provided by the Scottish Parliament and to provide for criminal sanctions for those members of Parliament who make dishonest or reckless claims for expenses and allowances.

The Online Register of Expenses shall be open to inspection without payment of any fee."May we urge BOM readers to zip across and sign up.

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BOM the book now available

Drawing on six years of blogging government waste, this book shows how we spend far more than we need on our public services. It sets out the facts and explores the underlying issues. Just why does government spend so much and deliver such second rate service? Why do we put up with it? And what are the alternatives?

ABOUT BOM

Despite all the talk of cuts, government still consumes nearly half our national income. Yet many tens of billions of its spending is wasted, with taxpayers made to pick up the tab for a depressing array of overpriced sub-standard services. This is money we can no longer afford, and our National Debt is already at danger level.

If we're to avoid further decades of stagnation and austerity we urgently need to find another way. Exposing and understanding the wastefulness of government is a necessary step in the right direction.